Wright-Patt begins COVID-19 booster shots

Wright-Patterson Medical Center will begin administering the single Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot to eligible beneficiaries.

Commercially known as Comirnaty, the Pfizer vaccine is also the only one approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

“We’re happy to announce that the Medical Center is now authorized to administer the Pfizer vaccine booster shot to eligible beneficiaries who completed the two-dose Pfizer COVID-19 primary vaccine series at least six months ago,” said Col. (Dr.) Ryan Mihata, deputy commander of the 88th Medical Group. “The booster shot will allow us to further strengthen our defense systems for our more vulnerable beneficiaries.”

According to Mihata, beneficiaries who received two doses of Moderna, a single dose of Janssen or mixed vaccine series are not recommended to receive a booster at this time.

Anyone with questions about a COVID-19 vaccine should talk to their health care provider for advice, 88 MDG officials said.

Eligible beneficiaries

The following beneficiary groups are eligible and should get the booster shot:

· Beneficiaries 65 and older

· Residents in long-term care settings

· Beneficiaries ages 50-64 with underlying medical conditions

The following beneficiary groups are eligible and may get the booster shot:

· Beneficiaries ages 18-49 with underlying medical conditions

· Beneficiaries ages 18-64 at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional setting

Qualifying conditions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, underlying medical conditions are (in alphabetical order and not in order of risk):

· Cancer

· Chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate to severe), interstitial, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension

· Dementia or other neurological conditions

· Diabetes (type 1 or 2)

· Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies or hypertension)

· HIV infection

· Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)

· Liver disease

· Overweight and obesity

· Pregnancy

· Sickle cell disease or thalassemia

· Smoking, current or former

· Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant

· Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain

· Substance-use disorders

Because the Medical Center is still continuing its point-of-dispensing operations for both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, an appointment is not required at this time, Mihata said. Both vaccines are available in the Wright-Patterson Medical Center auditorium.

Vaccine hours

Influenza vaccine:

· Monday through Friday:

o Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch)

o Children with a valid Department of Defense family member ID card can also get vaccinated in theMedical Center auditorium POD.

o Children without a DOD ID card may visit the Allergy & Immunizations Clinic on the Medical Center’s first floor.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine:

· Monday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

· Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon

· Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m.

· Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m.

· Friday from 8 a.m. to noon